Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Aug 5. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-34549-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Various factors have been found responsible for the increment in ecological footprint resulting difficulties in maintaining environmental sustainability. This has been noticed through a modeling perspective. Identifying the factors affecting Ecological Footprint helps policymakers to formulate policies regarding sustainability. However, studies conducted based upon systematic reviews on Ecological Footprint through modeling are still limited.
OBJECTIVE: This study intends to identify influential factors associated with ecological footprint through a systematic review.
METHODS: ProQuest, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used to search literature systematically. Particular keywords and Boolean operators were applied to dig out relevant studies for the review. Peer-reviewed research articles published in the English language till September 13, 2023, were incorporated for the analysis. Following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), 1011 articles were identified from four different databases and only 37 research papers were eligible for this study. These articles were assessed and relevant information was extracted and then amalgamated into the systematic review.
RESULTS: Gross domestic product, urbanization, energy consumption, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, natural resources, bio-capacity, human capital, foreign direct investment, trade openness, and financial development were observed as key factors of the ecological footprint.
CONCLUSION: Factors known to influence ecological footprint need to be addressed properly for environmental sustainability including widespread use of renewable energy.
PMID:39098973 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-024-34549-3
